Whitney Lambert taking a selfie with Houston Texans Kendall Lamm, left, and Julien Davenport at the Taste of the Texans.

Whitney Lambert taking a selfie with Houston Texans Kendall Lamm, left, and Julien Davenport at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Texan cheerleaders Angelina, left, and Brittrini, at the Taste of the Texans.

Texan cheerleaders Angelina, left, and Brittrini, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Houston Texans Zach Cunningham, from left, Ben Heeney and Kennan Gilchrist at the Taste of the Texans.

Houston Texans Zach Cunningham, from left, Ben Heeney and Kennan Gilchrist at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Houston Texan D'Onta Foreman, center, with Eddie Parada and Jessica Trevino, at the Taste of the Texans.

Houston Texan D'Onta Foreman, center, with Eddie Parada and Jessica Trevino, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Houston Texan Ufomba Kamalu and Anna Ucheomumu at the Taste of the Texans.

Houston Texan Ufomba Kamalu and Anna Ucheomumu at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Houston Texan Carlos Watkins autographing a football for Lila Malone, left, and Kerbey Finger at the Taste of the Texans.

Houston Texan Carlos Watkins autographing a football for Lila Malone, left, and Kerbey Finger at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Houston Texans LaTroy Lewis, left, and Kyle Fuller, at the Taste of the Texans.

Houston Texans LaTroy Lewis, left, and Kyle Fuller, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Lonnie Ladd, left, with Houston Texan Dylan Cole at the Taste of the Texans.

Lonnie Ladd, left, with Houston Texan Dylan Cole at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Texan cheerleaders Ashlyn, left, and Lauren, at the Taste of the Texans.

Texan cheerleaders Ashlyn, left, and Lauren, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Briahna Wilson, left, and Shannon Louyindoula at the Taste of the Texans.

Briahna Wilson, left, and Shannon Louyindoula at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Amber Shipp, left, and Judi Janney at the Taste of the Texans.

Amber Shipp, left, and Judi Janney at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Russ and Bria Lundy at the Taste of the Texans.

Russ and Bria Lundy at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Charlotte Amandes, from left, Shane Rowley and Kim Rowley at the Taste of the Texans.

Charlotte Amandes, from left, Shane Rowley and Kim Rowley at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Merlion on 4th at the Taste of the Texans.

Merlion on 4th at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Meredith and Kevin Tichenor at the Taste of the Texans.

Meredith and Kevin Tichenor at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Anyssa and Armando Perez at the Taste of the Texans.

Anyssa and Armando Perez at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Robert Del Grande, left, and Elliott Kelly of Cafe Annie, at the Taste of the Texans.

Robert Del Grande, left, and Elliott Kelly of Cafe Annie, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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John and Theresa Rousis at the Taste of the Texans.

John and Theresa Rousis at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Meshu and Morgahn Negga at the Taste of the Texans.

Meshu and Morgahn Negga at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Morgan McNew, from left, Amelia Cooksey and Shelby Rundle at the Taste of the Texans.

Morgan McNew, from left, Amelia Cooksey and Shelby Rundle at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Brittney Hryhorchuk, left, and Kim Hryhorchuk at the Taste of the Texans.

Brittney Hryhorchuk, left, and Kim Hryhorchuk at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Natalia Sanchez, left, and Aimee Ramos at the Taste of the Texans.

Natalia Sanchez, left, and Aimee Ramos at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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The Taste of the Texans.

The Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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The Taste of the Texans.

The Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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The Taste of the Texans.

The Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Pork belly burnt ends from Killen's, at the Taste of the Texans.

Pork belly burnt ends from Killen's, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Jerk spiced quail, from Frank's Americana Revival, at the Taste of the Texans.

Jerk spiced quail, from Frank's Americana Revival, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Slow braised black pepper short rib from Bosscat Kitchen + Libations, at the Taste of the Texans.

Slow braised black pepper short rib from Bosscat Kitchen + Libations, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Shrimp cocktail from Steak 48, at the Taste of the Texans.

Shrimp cocktail from Steak 48, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Housemade ricotta, seasonal jam, basil oil and cracker, from Pax Americana, at the Taste of the Texans.

Housemade ricotta, seasonal jam, basil oil and cracker, from Pax Americana, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Adult milk shakes from Bosscat Kitchen + Libations, at the Taste of the Texans.

Adult milk shakes from Bosscat Kitchen + Libations, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Tomato with mozzarella from King's Bierhaus, at the Taste of the Texans.

Tomato with mozzarella from King's Bierhaus, at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Roka Akor at the Taste of the Texans.

Roka Akor at the Taste of the Texans.

Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain

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Football fans and foodies raised $300,000 during the ninth annual "Taste of Texans"

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Stadium seats were empty, though space was sparse inside of the Verizon West Club during Monday night's "Taste of the Texans."

The ninth annual culinary competition, presented by Sysco, welcomed some 750 football-slash-foodie fans to NRG Park. Houston's 25 top restaurants and just as many rookie Texans players sampled savory bites, drinks, and sweets - all in the name of charity.

By event's end, the Houston Texans Foundation raised more than $300,000 to help underwrite the Houston Food Bank's hunger-relief programs in addition to patient care, education, and research initiatives at Houston Methodist Hospital.